Page 13 of Tempting the Highland Spy
Her stomach twisted. “And to think I believed I was searching for jewels or something of the sort.”
“Hardly.” Jones’s features were set in a look of grim disgust. “It’s not fit to discuss in a woman’s presence.”
“You deliberately put this woman in danger?” Harrison’s voice was hard as flint.
Mr. Jones shook his head. “I was prepared to intervene. But you rendered my assistance unnecessary, MacMasters.”
A vein pulsed in Harrison’s temple. “You weren’t in that room with her. O’Hanlon might’ve killed her.”
Simon slid his spectacles back in place. “Miss Winters was well aware of the risks when she agreed to the task.”
“Those risks were unacceptable,” Harrison said.
“If I’d anticipated a problem, I would not have approved the involvement of our agents. Including you.” Simon turned to her. “Well done, Miss Winters. I’d say you’ve passed your first test.”
“First test?” A gasp escaped her. “What is the meaning of this? We had an agreement.”
She bit back an angry epithet that sprang to the tip of her tongue. She’d fulfilled her end of the bargain. She’d done what Jones had asked. Tangling with O’Hanlon had not been atest. The all-too-recent memory of the man’s paw-like hands on her body made her skin crawl. If they thought she would cooperate with whatever scheme they had in mind, they’d soon find out she’d done all she intended to do. Nothing would induce her to embark on another danger-fraughttask.
The cool appraisal in the agent’s eyes set her nerves further on edge. She forced herself to hold his gaze.
“I had my doubts about you,” Jones said. “But you have a definite talent, Miss Winters.”
“A talent we need to utilize,” Simon continued. His gaze fell on Harrison. “Miss Winters is to be your new partner.”
